Jerry Markkula 1941 – 2023

Jerry Roland Markkula, 81, of Sebeka passed away with family at his side on March 23, 2023. He was born July 18, 1941, at the family farm in Meadow Township to Werner and Sadie (Samuelson) Markkula, the seventh of nine children. He went to country school through 8th grade. Shortly after he headed to Minneapolis and lived with his Uncle Henry helping him sell a Catholic magazine door to door. This is where he met his wife, Shirley at a New Years Eve party. On May 19, 1962, Jerry was united in marriage to Shirley Van Norman. They were blessed with four children: Terri, Lori, Cindy, and Jerry Jr. Last year they celebrated 60 years of marriage.
He joined his cousin Kenny installing carpet and this occupation would take him through much of his life. Selling and installing carpet, a family business he and his wife owned carpet stores in Loretto, MN and Becker, MN. He lived in Minnetonka, Elk River, Becker, and Rice making his way further north with each move. Eventually living in Sebeka, near the home he grew up in, he was able to spend time enjoying his time at “the farm” with his cats, chickens, and the deer. He retired from the carpet business in 2004. Shortly after retiring he bought a building in Verndale and started and grew Verndale Tire into a successful business. Upon the sale of this business, he retired again in 2017. He enjoyed going to breakfast, shaking dice, and having coffee each morning.
Deer, deer, and more deer. He couldn’t get enough of the deer, he enjoyed deer hunting, feeding, and watching the deer. He cherished the family time that came with deer hunting. He truly enjoyed all family time and loved his family beyond words. He will be dearly missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Harlan, Roy, Ella, Roger and baby sister Faye.
He is survived by his beloved wife Shirley; daughters: Terri (Duane) Patnode, Lori (Gary) Thompson, and Cindy (Morris) Benson; his son Jerry Markkula Jr.; grandsons: Derek (Kari) Patnode, Darin (Kristen) Patnode, Kyle Thompson and Brody Benson (Ariana Torrise); great-grandsons: Milo Patnode, Kayden Thompson, Zepherin Patnode and Cameron Patnode, sister Eleanor (Harold) LaCroix; brothers: Mark (Gloria) Markkula and Jesse Markkula and many special nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church in Bluegrass, MN at a later date. This will be published in the paper when plans are finalized. His family will lay him to rest at Meadow Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery.
Arrangements provided by Karvonen Funeral & Cremation Service of Wadena, Minnesota. Please visit www.karvonenfuneralhome.com to leave memorials and condolences on Jerry’s Tribute Wall. 4-19c